Met Chief says that banks shouldn't necessarily refund due to fraud

AmyL

Everynamestaken wrote: »

Ok really quickly...

Check the dates your direct debits will come out and change them if you have to, but make sure your money is in. You wouldn't go in a shop and get to the counter and tell them you will be back tomorrow to pay for it once your wage as gone into your account would you?

Also, there are plenty of bank accounts offering choice and a different charging structures. You signed for the account with the terms and conditions. When you don't follow the terms and conditions, don't complain someone is stealing your money.

My point was that i don't choose to have a bank account in the first place! I have to have one! You can't have anything unless you pay for it through your bank. What happens with direct debits is when they take the dd on a slightly different day or the day falls on the day before your money goes in you don't always know this far enough in advance to cancel it. Even if you do manage to cancel it in time then you have the problem of the company sending a huge bill instead. British Gas have said if the direct debit is cancelled again they will want to change it to prepay which is an absolute nightmare. There needs to be a buffer of one or two days where if the money goes in then you don't get charged.

bigadaj

AmyL wrote: »

My point was that i don't choose to have a bank account in the first place! I have to have one! You can't have anything unless you pay for it through your bank. What happens with direct debits is when they take the dd on a slightly different day or the day falls on the day before your money goes in you don't always know this far enough in advance to cancel it. Even if you do manage to cancel it in time then you have the problem of the company sending a huge bill instead. British Gas have said if the direct debit is cancelled again they will want to change it to prepay which is an absolute nightmare. There needs to be a buffer of one or two days where if the money goes in then you don't get charged.

You can choose not to have a bank account, but it makes many things more expensive and less convenient. You are normally advised of when a direct debit is drawn, which might vary by a day or two due to weekends or holidays, it really shouldn't be that difficult to ensure you have enough money in there to met your obligations.

eskbanker

AmyL wrote: »

What happens with direct debits is when they take the dd on a slightly different day or the day falls on the day before your money goes in you don't always know this far enough in advance to cancel it.

As per previous post, what does your BG statement advise regarding when the DD will be drawn?

AmyL wrote: »

Even if you do manage to cancel it in time then you have the problem of the company sending a huge bill instead. British Gas have said if the direct debit is cancelled again they will want to change it to prepay which is an absolute nightmare.

You're looking at this the wrong way round - you are receiving a preferential tariff from BG based on you committing to pay by direct debit (as this is cheaper and more efficient for them). If you fail to keep your side of the bargain by effectively preventing the DD payment then of course they're not going to continue with that.

AmyL wrote: »

There needs to be a buffer of one or two days where if the money goes in then you don't get charged.

There doesn't need to be this at all - it might make life more convenient for those who don't have their finances well enough organised but this is exactly what overdrafts are there for (whether arranged or not), so you can borrow your bank's money on a short term basis to settle your debt. Do you expect them to lend you money for free?

takman

AmyL wrote: »

My point was that i don't choose to have a bank account in the first place! I have to have one! You can't have anything unless you pay for it through your bank. What happens with direct debits is when they take the dd on a slightly different day or the day falls on the day before your money goes in you don't always know this far enough in advance to cancel it. Even if you do manage to cancel it in time then you have the problem of the company sending a huge bill instead. British Gas have said if the direct debit is cancelled again they will want to change it to prepay which is an absolute nightmare. There needs to be a buffer of one or two days where if the money goes in then you don't get charged.

Just keep a few hundred pounds in your account at all times as a buffer then you won't have to worry about missing direct debits. All your problems are the fault of your poor money management and nothing to do with having a bank account.

If you really don't want a bank account then you don't have to!. Or you can choose to not use Direct Debits, nobody is forcing you.

glentoran99

AmyL wrote: »

My point was that i don't choose to have a bank account in the first place! I have to have one! You can't have anything unless you pay for it through your bank. What happens with direct debits is when they take the dd on a slightly different day or the day falls on the day before your money goes in you don't always know this far enough in advance to cancel it. Even if you do manage to cancel it in time then you have the problem of the company sending a huge bill instead. British Gas have said if the direct debit is cancelled again they will want to change it to prepay which is an absolute nightmare. There needs to be a buffer of one or two days where if the money goes in then you don't get charged.

You get plenty of notice when a bill is going to be paid